Inside Stoke Central’s Election Contest

contribution by A Very Public Sociologist

Last Thursday night’s selection meeting was always going to be a fraught affair. While shenanigans are a feature of all the mainstream parties, especially where the last minute placement of candidates are concerned, in Stoke Central’s case the stitched-up shortlist comes on top of the soured relations with the regional organisation and the National Executive Committee.

It’s a situation that has seen party members fall out, activists barred from standing for election, and the administrative suspension of the entire CLP. And so when I turned up at Equality House in Shelton for the meeting, the air was thick with ill-feeling and rebellion.

Eventually the 71 voting members plus the dozen or so illegible members and assorted hangers on took their seats to hear what the hopefuls had to say.
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Parts of Labour’s manifesto revealed. Not very radical

The Guardian has some excerpts from New Labour’s election manifesto:

• Provisions for the management of inefficient police forces to be taken over by efficient forces. “Where service is not good enough, it will be taken over by the best”, the draft says.

• Simultaneous referendums on a new voting system for the Commons and a 100% elected second chamber.

• A national youth service alongside votes at 16.

• Rights for football supporters to take over football clubs.

• A living wage of £7.60 in Whitehall, funded by a cap on the salaries of the most highly paid public sector employees.

Cabinet-level discussions are also under way on a range of proposals including a cap on interest charged by credit card companies and a new review of competition law by the Office of Fair Trading.

Erm – is this meant to be radical? It most decidedly is not.

The 100% elected chamber stuff was in previous manifestos and is unlikely to catch the attention of the broader public. Plus, there are no big ideas or direction here, especially on economic policy.

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